IWC Schaffhausen · ref 812 / 812 AD / 1812 · 1967–1982
The Aquatimer was IWC's first dive watch, shown in 1967 as the ref. 812. It was rated to 200m and uses two screw-down crowns. The one at 4 turns an inner dive bezel under the crystal, and the one at 2 winds the watch and sets the time and date. Inside is the cal. 8541, IWC's Pellaton-wound automatic, upgraded around 1970 to the 8541B with hacking seconds. The case is a compact 37mm with sharply cut lugs. IWC later called it the 812 AD, then the 1812 after it changed its numbering in 1972, and kept it in the range until 1982. There were four dial and inner bezel pairings, black with black, black with silver, white with black and the rare white with silver. Only a few thousand were made across all the early Aquatimers put together, so expect to wait for a good one.
The caliber
The 812 runs the cal. 8541, IWC's Pellaton-wound automatic at 19,800 beats an hour with about 40 hours of reserve. Around 1970 IWC upgraded it to the 8541B, adding hacking seconds and a Grenier-type hairspring collet. The same movement family started in the Ingenieur and also went into the Yacht Club, so the Aquatimer is the dive-watch branch of the same engineering.
The bezel crown and the seals on both crowns are the parts that age, so a long-unserviced watch may not turn smoothly or seal well. Dials and hands get replaced over the years, so check that everything matches.
Buying guide
Only two vintage Aquatimers are for sale, at $7,995 from the US and $16,900 from Brazil, so the band is just those two asks. We'd look at the US one first, a 1812 AD, which is the post-1972 number for the same watch. Ask either seller for a video of the inner bezel turning from the crown at 4, a movement photo showing a cal. 8541 or 8541B, and whether both crowns screw down flush, and plan on new seals before you swim with it. Check each seller's feedback and return policy on the item page, since eBay's watch search doesn't show them.
$7,995.00delivered
Less than half the other ask at $7,995 delivered from the US, titled 1812 AD with a black dial. It isn't titled as running or serviced, so get the inner bezel video and a movement photo before you offer.
IWC Aquatimer Vintage Stainless Steel Black Dial 37mm Automatic Watch 1812 AD
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$7,995.00delivered
$7,995.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$7,995.00
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Good buy
Titled 1812 AD, black dial. Ships from the US.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$16,900.00delivered
$16,900.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$16,900.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 812 AD from 1967, black dial. Ships from Brazil.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 6, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA fresh strap, a set of spring bars and a spring-bar tool are the cheap part of making an old IWC Aquatimer 812 wearable again. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search straps & tools ↗Amazon search
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